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280 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM
with sufficient accnracy, the real commercial conditions of the
department.
It is apparent that all these conditions are combined in the
highest perfection in the Post Office. It is a vast co-ordinated
system, such ns no private capitalists could maintain, unless,
indeed, they were in undisputed possession of the field by
virtu0 of a Gorernment monopoly. The forwarding of 1ett.ers
is a purely routine and equable oporation. Not a letter can
be mislaid but aomeone will become aware of it, and by the
published tables of mail departures and arrivals the public is
enabled accurately to check the performance of the system.
Its cnpital expenditure, too, is insignificant compared with
it.8 current orpcnditure. Like other Government departments,
indeed, thc Post Office does not favour us with any statement
of tho capital due of its buildings, fittings, etc. But in the
Post Offico accounts, we have a statement of tho annual cost of
buildings and repairs, togetller with rents, rates, taxes, fuel,
and lights. In tho last ten years (1856-65) the expense has
varied from $239,730 in 1861. to 8106,478 in 1859, and the
nvorage yearly expense has bcon L72,486, which bears R very
inconsiderable ratio to f1,303,064, the average cost of the
Post office st& during the samo years. Compared with
&2,871Ji29, the average complete expenditure of the Post
Office during tho last ten years, the cost of the fixed property
of tho department is quite iuconsiderable. This very favourable
state of thiugs is duo to the fact that all the conveyances
of the Post. Office system are furnished by contract, while it is
only the large central offices that are owned by Government.
Ihfore proceeding to consider the other systems of con-
Feyancc, I must notice that tho Post Office in reality is neither
a commercial nor a philanthropic establishment, but simply
one of the revenue departments of the Government. It very
rightly insist.s, that no country post office shall be established
unless the correspondence passing through it shall warrant the
increased expense and it maintains a tariff which ha no accordance
whatever with tho cost of conveyance. Books, newspapem,
and even unsealed manuscripts, can be sent np to the weight
of 4 oz. for a penny ; Thereas, if a sealed letter in the least